Net sales grew 6.2% to $89.5 million for the second quarter ended June 30, 2017 compared with $84.3 million for the second quarter ended June 30, 2016. The $5.2 million increase in net sales was due to a comparable store sales increase of 0.5%, or $0.5 million, and incremental net sales of $4.7 million from stores not included in the comparable store base. The Company noted that comparable store sales growth was mid-single digit over the two month period of May and June, but this was mostly offset by a decline in April. Comparable store sales growth for the second quarter of 2016 was 8.2%.

“Despite the topline shortfall, we were pleased to deliver solid growth in earnings per share in the quarter, generate significant free cash flow to reduce debt to the lowest level in five years and continue to successfully open new stores, with seven stores opened year to date and an additional seven to eight scheduled to open in the second half of the year,” said Chris Homeister, CEO.

Gross margin for the second quarter of each of 2017 and 2016 was 69.7%.

Selling, general and administrative costs for the second quarter of 2017 were $50.7 million compared with $47.0 million for the second quarter of 2016. The $3.7 million increase was primarily driven by the costs associated with opening and operating new stores.

The Company opened four new retail stores in the second quarter of 2017, consisting of its seventh Dallas area location in Fort Worth, TX, its fourth location in the Denver, CO market, its second location in the Nashville, TN market and its fourth location in the Atlanta, GA market located in Buckhead. As of June 30, 2017 the Company operates 130 stores in 31 states and the District of Columbia.

Non-GAAP Information

The Company presents non-GAAP net income and Adjusted EBITDA to provide useful information to investors regarding the Company’s normalized operating performance.

On a non-GAAP basis, net income for the second quarter of 2017 was $7.9 million compared with $7.1 million for the second quarter of 2016. Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share for the second quarter of 2017 were $0.15 compared with $0.14 for the second quarter of 2016, representing 7.1% growth. See the “Non-GAAP Income Reconciliation” table and the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section below for a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP income.

Non-GAAP Income Reconciliation

Three Months Ended

June 30, 2017

June 30, 2016

Diluted

Diluted

($ in thousands, except per share data)

Pretax

Net of Tax

Per ShareAmounts

Pretax

Net of Tax

Per ShareAmounts

GAAP income

$

11,214

$

7,723

$

0.15

$

11,297

$

6,849

$

0.13

Special charges:

Litigation costs

298

205

0.00

405

246

0.00

Non-GAAP income(1)

$

11,512

$

7,928

$

0.15

$

11,702

$

7,095

$

0.14

Six Months Ended

June 30, 2017

June 30, 2016

Diluted

Diluted

($ in thousands, except per share data)

Pretax

Net of Tax

Per ShareAmounts

Pretax

Net of Tax

Per ShareAmounts

GAAP income

$

24,298

$

15,732

$

0.30

$

22,514

$

13,607

$

0.26

Special charges:

Litigation costs

649

420

0.01

1,102

666

0.01

Non-GAAP income(1)

$

24,947

$

16,152

$

0.31

$

23,616

$

14,273

$

0.28

(1) Amounts may not foot due to rounding.

Adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter of 2017 was $19.1 million compared with $19.0 million for the second quarter of 2016, representing 0.8% growth. See the “Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation” table and the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section below for a reconciliation of GAAP net income to Adjusted EBITDA.

Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation

Three Months Ended

($ in thousands)

June 30,

2017

% of sales

2016

% of sales

GAAP net income

$

7,723

8.6

%

$

6,849

8.1

%

Interest expense

448

0.5

%

449

0.5

%

Income taxes

3,491

3.9

%

4,448

5.3

%

Depreciation and amortization

6,256

7.0

%

5,613

6.7

%

Special charges(1)

298

0.3

%

405

0.5

%

Stock-based compensation

928

1.0

%

1,235

1.5

%

Adjusted EBITDA(2)

$

19,144

21.4

%

$

18,999

22.5

%

Six Months Ended

($ in thousands)

June 30,

2017

% of sales

2016

% of sales

GAAP net income

$

15,732

8.7

%

$

13,607

8.1

%

Interest expense

933

0.5

%

1,019

0.6

%

Income taxes

8,566

4.7

%

8,907

5.3

%

Depreciation and amortization

12,592

6.9

%

11,184

6.6

%

Special charges(1)

649

0.4

%

1,102

0.7

%

Stock-based compensation

1,770

1.0

%

2,464

1.5

%

Adjusted EBITDA(2)

$

40,242

22.2

%

$

38,283

22.7

%

(1) Shareholder and other litigation costs.

(2) Amounts may not foot due to rounding.

Financial Guidance

The Company’s expectations for the full year ending December 31, 2017 based on past performance, anticipated new store openings and current economic conditions:

($ in millions, except per share data)

2017

2016

Net Sales

$350 – $365

$324.2

Comparable Store Sales Change

low to mid single digits

7.6%

Gross Margin % of Net Sales

approx. 70%

70.0%

Depreciation & Amortization

approx. $26

$23.0

Stock Based Compensation

approx. $3.5

$4.3

Effective Tax Rate

approx. 38%

41.1%

Special Charges

approx. $1.0

$7.6

Earnings per Share (GAAP)

$0.48 – $0.55

$0.36

Non-GAAP Earnings Per Share

$0.49 – $0.56

$0.45

Adjusted EBITDA

$72 – $78

$68.0

Fully Diluted Shares Outstanding

approx. 52 million

51.9 million

New stores

approx. 15

9

Capital Expenditures

approx. $35

$27.3

See the “Non-GAAP Income Guidance Reconciliation” table and the “Adjusted EBITDA Guidance Reconciliation” table at the end of this release for a reconciliation of these Non-GAAP measures to the comparable GAAP measures.

Webcast and Conference Call
The Company will host a conference call via live webcast for investors and other interested parties beginning at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, July 18, 2017. Participants may access the live webcast by visiting the Company’s Investor Relations page at www.tileshop.com. The call can also be accessed by dialing (844) 421-0597, or (716) 247-5787 for international participants. A webcast replay of the call will be available on the Company’s Investor Relations page at www.tileshop.com.

Additional details can be located at www.tileshop.com under the Financial Information – SEC Filings section of the Company’s Investor Relations page.

About The Tile Shop

The Tile Shop (NASDAQ:TTS) is a leading specialty retailer of manufactured and natural stone tiles, setting and maintenance materials, and related accessories in the United States. The Company offers a wide selection of high quality products, exclusive designs, knowledgeable staff and exceptional customer service, in an extensive showroom environment with up to 50 full-room tiled displays which are enhanced by the complimentary Design Studio – a collaborative platform to create customized 3D design renderings to scale, allowing customers to bring their design ideas to life. The Tile Shop currently operates 130 stores in 31 states and the District of Columbia, with an average size of 20,800 square feet and sells products online at www.tileshop.com.

The Tile Shop is a proud member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB), and the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA). Visit www.tileshop.com. Join The Tile Shop (#thetileshop) on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company calculates Adjusted EBITDA by taking net income calculated in accordance with GAAP, and adjusting for interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock based compensation and special charges related to litigation, including shareholder and other litigation. Adjusted EBITDA margin is equal to Adjusted EBITDA divided by net sales. Non-GAAP net income excludes special charges related to litigation costs, including shareholder and other litigation, and is net of tax.

The Company believes that these non-GAAP measures of financial results provide useful information to management and investors regarding certain financial and business trends relating to the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. Company management uses these non-GAAP measures to compare Company performance to that of prior periods for trend analyses, for purposes of determining management incentive compensation, and for budgeting and planning purposes. These measures are used in monthly financial reports prepared for management and the Board of Directors. The Company believes that the use of these non-GAAP financial measures provides an additional tool for investors to use in evaluating ongoing operating results and trends and in comparing the Company’s financial measures with other specialty retailers, many of which present similar non-GAAP financial measures to investors.

Company management does not consider these non-GAAP measures in isolation or as an alternative to financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP. The principal limitations of these non-GAAP financial measures are that they exclude significant expenses and income that are required by GAAP to be recognized in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In addition, they are subject to inherent limitations as they reflect the exercise of judgments by management about which expenses and income are excluded or included in determining these non-GAAP financial measures. In order to compensate for these limitations, management presents non-GAAP financial measures in connection with GAAP results. The Company urges investors to review the reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP financial measures and not to rely on any single financial measure to evaluate the business.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release includes “forward looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “estimate”, “plan”, “outlook”, and “project” and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward looking statements include any statements regarding the Company’s strategic and operational plan and expected financial performance (including the financial performance of new stores). Forward looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved. Forward looking statements are based on information available at the time those statements are made and/or management’s good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward looking statements, including but not limited to unforeseen events that may affect the retail market or the performance of the Company’s stores. The Company does not intend, and undertakes no duty, to update this information to reflect future events or circumstances. Investors are referred to the most recent reports filed with the SEC by the Company.